Employees of the Iloilo provincial government participated in the Capacity and Policy Baselining Workshop for the implementation of the Transformative Actions for Climate and Ecological Protection and Development (TRANSCEND) program.
The three-day workshop is being held on March 19-21, 2025 at Diversion 21 Hotel, Iloilo City.
TRANSCEND is a collaborative initiative between the Philippine government and the Federal Government of Germany and is funded through the International Climate Initiative (IKI).
It was launched in early 2024 to support the Philippines’ transition to a climate-resilient, low-carbon, and biodiversity-friendly society, aligning with the country’s National Adaptation Plan, Nationally Determined Contributions, and the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.
The program is implemented by a consortium of organizations, including UN-Habitat, which leads the urban ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) component. This component focuses on integrating EbA into national policies to guide sustainable ecosystem use and enhance climate governance at sub-national levels.
TRANSCEND operates across multiple landscapes in the Philippines, encompassing several provinces such as Batangas and Oriental Mindoro in Luzon, Iloilo and Antique in the Visayas, and Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental in Mindanao. The program’s activities are designed to address climate change and biodiversity loss, contributing to the development of resilient built environments and communities, while also delivering mitigation co-benefits.
Provincial Administrator Raul Banias, who graced the opening day, said the TRANSCEND program “can bring several benefits to Iloilo Province, particularly in terms of climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable urban development.”
“Gov. Toto (Defensor) is thankful for this partnership with the UN Habitat as the benefits of the TRANSCEND partnership with the UN Habitat is immense. Our PPDO under Valme (Lujan) is spearheading this collaboration,”Banias said in his Facebook post.
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